Irish airline Aer Lingus said Tuesday it saw total revenues fall by 16 percent during the first three months of 2009 compared to a year earlier as it announced changes in its senior management.
Total revenue per passenger in the period fell by 9.6 percent year-on-year after passenger numbers decreased by 6.5 percent to 2.09 million, the airline said in a statement.
The former state carrier also said it expected its average fare trend for full year 2009 to be worse than previously expected with losses materially below the bottom of the range of current market expectations.
Aer Lingus Chairman Colm Barrington said that with the severe deterioration in operating conditions, the board was takings steps to safeguard the company's long-term viability.
"In addition to today's management changes, the Board remains resolute in its objective of reducing operating costs and retaining a strong capital structure," Barrington said in the statement.
Barrington took over executive responsibility for the company earlier this month after Dermot Mannion resigned as CEO.
Aer Lingus said it had appointed Niall Walsh as chief operating officer.
It said Chief Financial Officer Sean Coyle will take on the additional role of head of the group's Short Haul Operations and Stephen Kavanagh, the group's corporate planning director, will also be head of Long Haul Operations.
